The Real Cost of Breast Augmentation in California
Updated July 2026 · Based on published pricing from 202 California surgeons
Key Takeaways
- A breast augmentation in California typically costs about $7,000, based on published pricing from 202 California surgeons. There is no single number, only a range.
- Most people pay $6,000 to $8,001. The full spread runs from about $4,820 for a straightforward saline augmentation to $10,460 and up for premium silicone work at a marquee practice.
- Your city moves the price. The same operation runs around $4,000 in Yorba Linda but about $9,200 in Mountain View, a gap of roughly $5,200.
- The exact procedure matters. Across the 8 related procedures on this page, typical prices span $6,600 (breast reconstruction) to $14,750 (fat transfer breast augmentation).
- Compare all-in quotes only. A complete price bundles the surgeon's fee, implants, anesthesia, the facility, and follow-up care; practices draw those lines differently.
- Financing is the norm. Most patients pay out of pocket or finance over 6 to 24 months; breast reduction and reconstruction may be partly covered by insurance.
California Breast Augmentation at a glance
The headline number most people are looking for, before the details.
What you're actually paying for
The number a surgeon quotes is rarely just their skill. It bundles the implant, the anesthesiologist, the facility, and the after-care into one figure, and practices draw those lines differently. A "cheaper" quote that excludes anesthesia and garments can land within dollars of a higher all-in price.
Geography is the single biggest swing you can see on this page. Real estate, staff wages, and patient demand in a city like San Francisco or Beverly Hills sit on top of every procedure performed there. The clinical work is identical to a practice two hours away charging thousands less.
Implant choice matters more than most people expect. Saline is the value option; standard silicone is the default; cohesive "gummy bear" and premium-warranty implants add to the bill. The same is true for technique: going under the muscle, correcting asymmetry, or adding a lift all add operating time, and operating time is money.
Finally, the lowest quote is not automatically the best deal. A revision to fix a result you are unhappy with frequently costs more than the original augmentation. Paying once for the right surgeon is usually cheaper than paying twice.
- Surgeon's fee. The largest single line item, and the one that scales with reputation, board certification, and demand. A sought-after surgeon in a major metro commands more, sometimes a lot more, than an equally qualified one an hour inland.
- Implants or your own fat. Silicone implants generally cost more than saline; cohesive "gummy bear" implants more again. A fat-transfer augmentation skips implants entirely but adds liposuction to harvest the fat.
- Anesthesia. A board-certified anesthesiologist or CRNA for the length of the operation, usually a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars, billed separately by some practices.
- Facility / operating room. An accredited surgical facility costs more than an in-office suite, but accreditation is not a place to bargain-hunt.
- Pre-op and follow-up. Consultation, labs, post-surgical garments, and follow-up visits. Some quotes fold these in; others add them later. Always ask what the number actually covers.
Breast augmentation, procedure by procedure
"Breast augmentation" covers more than one operation, and the price gap between them is real. Here's the California cost of each: the range, where most surgeons land, and where it runs cheapest and most expensive.
Breast Augmentation Cost in California typically $7,000
Across California, breast augmentation runs from about $4,820 to $10,460. Most California surgeons charge between $6,000 and $8,001, and the typical price sits around $7,000.
The core procedure: implants (saline or silicone) placed to increase breast size and shape. This is what most people mean by a "boob job," and it is the benchmark every other number on this page is measured against.
What moves the price: Implant type is the biggest lever. Saline sits at the low end, silicone in the middle, and cohesive "gummy bear" implants at the top. Placement (over vs. under the muscle) and whether any asymmetry is corrected also move the price.
Where it costs most & least in California
See all 36 California cities with multiple priced surgeons
| City | Typical | Range | Surgeons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorba Linda | $4,000 | $3,500–$4,500 | 2 |
| Visalia | $4,900 | $4,500–$5,300 | 2 |
| La Mesa | $4,950 | $4,400–$5,499 | 2 |
| Long Beach | $5,300 | $5,000–$5,599 | 2 |
| Bakersfield | $5,500 | $4,000–$10,000 | 3 |
| Foothill Ranch | $5,644 | $4,750–$6,538 | 2 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | $5,650 | $5,500–$5,800 | 2 |
| Ventura | $5,650 | $4,300–$7,000 | 2 |
| Irvine | $6,000 | $3,500–$7,000 | 3 |
| Chico | $6,151 | $6,000–$6,301 | 2 |
| Huntington Beach | $6,185 | $5,530–$6,900 | 4 |
| Fresno | $6,275 | $5,200–$6,650 | 5 |
| San Diego | $6,500 | $5,000–$11,000 | 9 |
| Ontario | $6,500 | $6,200–$6,800 | 2 |
| San Jose | $6,500 | $5,000–$8,200 | 3 |
| Stockton | $6,501 | $6,325–$8,000 | 3 |
| Walnut Creek | $6,558 | $6,000–$7,050 | 3 |
| Menlo Park | $6,750 | $6,500–$7,000 | 2 |
| Pasadena | $6,800 | $4,600–$8,000 | 4 |
| La Jolla | $6,875 | $4,800–$7,865 | 10 |
| Newport Beach | $7,200 | $3,500–$17,000 | 15 |
| Sacramento | $7,200 | $5,600–$12,000 | 5 |
| Santa Rosa | $7,250 | $5,501–$9,000 | 4 |
| Greenbrae | $7,400 | $7,400–$8,000 | 3 |
| Granite Bay | $7,500 | $7,200–$7,800 | 2 |
| Los Gatos | $7,500 | $4,500–$9,599 | 3 |
| Thousand Oaks | $7,600 | $6,900–$12,000 | 4 |
| Torrance | $7,601 | $6,500–$8,000 | 7 |
| Los Angeles | $7,750 | $6,500–$16,000 | 4 |
| Beverly Hills | $7,850 | $500–$120,000 | 24 |
| Santa Barbara | $7,950 | $6,800–$9,100 | 2 |
| Orange | $8,200 | $5,000–$15,000 | 3 |
| Palo Alto | $8,300 | $7,200–$11,500 | 3 |
| Marina Del Rey | $8,749 | $7,498–$10,000 | 2 |
| San Francisco | $9,000 | $4,500–$16,000 | 11 |
| Mountain View | $9,200 | $7,500–$10,100 | 3 |
Breast Augmentation with a Lift Cost in California typically $9,648
Across California, breast augmentation with a lift runs from about $7,040 to $15,000. Most California surgeons charge between $8,000 and $13,000, and the typical price sits around $9,648.
A breast augmentation combined with a lift (augmentation-mastopexy) adds implants and removes excess skin in one operation. It is common after pregnancy or weight loss, when volume and sag both need addressing.
What moves the price: You are paying for two procedures in one anesthesia session, so it reliably runs several thousand more than a straight augmentation, but far less than booking the two surgeries separately.
Where it costs most & least in California
See all 8 California cities with multiple priced surgeons
| City | Typical | Range | Surgeons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Beach | $6,000 | $5,000–$7,000 | 2 |
| San Diego | $8,000 | $7,200–$8,800 | 3 |
| Newport Beach | $8,610 | $1,050–$11,400 | 4 |
| Ontario | $8,850 | $8,200–$9,500 | 2 |
| La Jolla | $11,000 | $1,450–$15,195 | 7 |
| Beverly Hills | $13,000 | $8,500–$32,000 | 7 |
| Westlake Village | $14,500 | $13,000–$16,000 | 2 |
| Anaheim | $14,500 | $14,000–$15,000 | 2 |
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost in California typically $14,750
Across California, fat transfer breast augmentation runs from about $7,850 to $21,300. Most California surgeons charge between $8,750 and $19,500, and the typical price sits around $14,750.
Fat transfer augmentation uses liposuction to harvest your own fat and inject it into the breasts, with no implants. It offers a modest, natural-looking increase and removes fat from somewhere you would rather not have it.
What moves the price: The price reflects two procedures (liposuction plus grafting) and longer operating time, which is why it often sits above a standard implant augmentation despite using no device.
Where it costs most & least in California
See all 2 California cities with multiple priced surgeons
| City | Typical | Range | Surgeons |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $11,000 | $8,000–$21,000 | 3 |
| Los Angeles | $18,750 | $17,500–$20,000 | 2 |
Breast Implant Revision Cost in California typically $8,000
Across California, breast implant revision runs from about $5,790 to $16,655. Most California surgeons charge between $6,700 and $10,000, and the typical price sits around $8,000.
Revision surgery corrects or updates an earlier augmentation: swapping implant size or type, fixing malposition or capsular contracture, or refreshing a years-old result.
What moves the price: Revisions are technically harder than the original surgery (scar tissue, capsule work, sometimes a lift), so they trend higher. A surgeon correcting another practice’s result will price for the added complexity.
Where it costs most & least in California
See all 10 California cities with multiple priced surgeons
| City | Typical | Range | Surgeons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visalia | $5,100 | $3,500–$6,700 | 2 |
| Ontario | $6,450 | $6,200–$6,700 | 2 |
| Sacramento | $6,900 | $4,000–$8,000 | 4 |
| Thousand Oaks | $7,500 | $7,000–$8,000 | 3 |
| Torrance | $8,500 | $8,000–$9,000 | 2 |
| San Diego | $8,750 | $7,499–$10,000 | 2 |
| La Jolla | $9,780 | $7,999–$15,850 | 3 |
| Newport Beach | $10,000 | $6,500–$14,725 | 5 |
| Santa Rosa | $10,150 | $8,300–$12,000 | 2 |
| Beverly Hills | $11,970 | $2,000–$26,000 | 7 |
Breast Implant Removal (Explant) Cost in California typically $7,000
Across California, breast implant removal (explant) runs from about $2,000 to $15,250. Most California surgeons charge between $3,200 and $10,700, and the typical price sits around $7,000.
Explant surgery removes breast implants, with or without removing the surrounding capsule (en-bloc or total capsulectomy). Some patients pair it with a lift or a small fat transfer to restore shape.
What moves the price: A simple removal is among the lower-cost procedures here; a full capsulectomy, or removal combined with a lift, can cost as much as the original augmentation. The capsule work is what drives the spread.
Where it costs most & least in California
See all 10 California cities with multiple priced surgeons
| City | Typical | Range | Surgeons |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Jolla | $3,000 | $2,850–$11,900 | 3 |
| Thousand Oaks | $3,100 | $1,900–$6,800 | 3 |
| Long Beach | $3,900 | $3,500–$4,300 | 2 |
| Murrieta | $5,100 | $4,500–$5,700 | 2 |
| Los Gatos | $5,400 | $2,800–$8,000 | 2 |
| San Diego | $6,300 | $1,000–$16,000 | 3 |
| Pasadena | $7,000 | $5,000–$9,000 | 2 |
| Redlands | $8,600 | $8,400–$8,800 | 2 |
| Newport Beach | $11,000 | $8,500–$14,500 | 3 |
| Beverly Hills | $16,900 | $8,000–$19,499 | 5 |
Breast Lift Cost in California typically $8,900
Across California, breast lift runs from about $5,999 to $15,000. Most California surgeons charge between $7,551 and $10,000, and the typical price sits around $8,900.
A breast lift (mastopexy) raises and reshapes the breasts by removing excess skin, with no implants and no size increase. It addresses sag from age, pregnancy, or weight change.
What moves the price: Price tracks the degree of lift needed; a full lift with significant skin removal takes longer than a minor one. No implant cost keeps it below augmentation-with-lift.
Where it costs most & least in California
See all 3 California cities with multiple priced surgeons
| City | Typical | Range | Surgeons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena | $4,800 | $3,600–$5,999 | 2 |
| Beverly Hills | $9,000 | $7,500–$10,000 | 3 |
| San Jose | $14,500 | $11,500–$17,500 | 2 |
Breast Reduction Cost in California typically $9,128
Across California, breast reduction runs from about $5,000 to $22,668. Most California surgeons charge between $6,038 and $15,000, and the typical price sits around $9,128.
Breast reduction removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to relieve neck, back, and shoulder pain and to reshape. It is as much a quality-of-life surgery as a cosmetic one.
What moves the price: When reduction is performed for documented physical symptoms, insurance sometimes covers part of it, which can make the out-of-pocket cost very different from the surgeon’s sticker price. Always check coverage before assuming the full amount.
Where it costs most & least in California
See all 6 California cities with multiple priced surgeons
| City | Typical | Range | Surgeons |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Hollywood | $5,050 | $3,100–$7,000 | 2 |
| Pasadena | $6,000 | $5,999–$6,000 | 2 |
| San Francisco | $7,289 | $5,000–$14,000 | 6 |
| Encino | $15,000 | $15,000–$15,000 | 2 |
| Beverly Hills | $15,400 | $350–$25,000 | 5 |
| Newport Beach | $20,000 | $8,000–$23,000 | 3 |
Breast Reconstruction Cost in California typically $6,600
Across California, breast reconstruction runs from about $1,000 to $36,000. Most California surgeons charge between $2,125 and $16,263, and the typical price sits around $6,600.
Reconstruction rebuilds the breast after mastectomy or injury, using implants or your own tissue (flap procedures). It is reconstructive rather than elective cosmetic surgery.
What moves the price: Federal law (the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act) requires most insurers to cover reconstruction after a mastectomy, so the prices here reflect surgeon list rates, not what an insured patient typically pays out of pocket.
Where it costs most & least in California
See all 2 California cities with multiple priced surgeons
| City | Typical | Range | Surgeons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $2,750 | $1,000–$4,500 | 2 |
| Fresno | $11,000 | $2,000–$20,000 | 2 |
How to pay for it, and how to bring the cost down
Most plastic surgery is elective and paid out of pocket, so financing is the norm, not the exception. Medical-credit products like CareCredit and Alphaeon, and clinic-partnered lenders such as PatientFi or Cherry, spread the cost over 6 to 24 months, sometimes interest-free if paid inside a promo window.
Ask the practice directly about payment plans and seasonal specials. Many surgeons run quieter pricing in slower months and bundle revisions or touch-ups into the original fee.
A reduction or reconstruction may be partly insurance-covered when it is medically necessary. Get the documentation started early, because pre-authorization takes time.
Resist anchoring on the cheapest quote. Travel for a "deal," a bargain facility, or an under-priced revision can cost more once you factor in re-operations, follow-up travel, and the value of getting it right the first time.
Breast augmentation cost in California: common questions
How much does a breast augmentation cost in California?
Based on published pricing from 202 California surgeons, most breast augmentations cost between $6,000 and $8,001, with a typical price around $7,000. Saline procedures can start near $4,820; premium silicone work at top practices can exceed $10,460.
Why is a boob job more expensive in some California cities than others?
Mostly overhead and demand. In our California data, Mountain View runs around $9,200 while Yorba Linda is closer to $4,000 for the same operation. Higher real estate, wages, and patient demand in big metros sit on top of every procedure performed there.
Does insurance cover breast surgery?
Cosmetic augmentation, lifts, and most revisions are elective and not covered. Breast reduction can be partly covered when it relieves documented physical symptoms, and reconstruction after a mastectomy is required to be covered by most insurers under federal law. Always verify with your own plan before surgery.
Is the cheapest surgeon a good idea?
A low price is not a red flag by itself, but the cheapest quote should never be the deciding factor. Revisions to correct an unsatisfactory result routinely cost more than the original surgery. Board certification, facility accreditation, and before-and-after results matter more than saving a few hundred dollars.
What does the price actually include?
It varies by practice, which is why two quotes are hard to compare. A complete price usually covers the surgeon's fee, implants or fat transfer, anesthesia, the surgical facility, and follow-up care. Some practices quote the surgeon's fee alone and add anesthesia, facility, and garments later. Always ask for the all-in number.
Find a California breast augmentation surgeon
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